Yes, we can pray anywhere, at any time, in any posture: standing, seated, lying down, even upside down, if you are quirky.
Most people associate the universal “prayer posture” as being on your knees.
Most people agree that prayer is beneficial. Prayer works.
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:16
Most people would probably also agree that prayer is about heart issues. Asking for what we want, from our heart.
Sometimes, those requests are desperate.
And sometimes, yes, they are contrite.
“YHWH [is] near to the broken of heart, And He saves the bruised of spirit.”
Psalms 34:18
Begging for forgiveness and emergency action on a matter, usually of our own making.
People probably don’t think along the lines of how prayer is bruised.
A bruise is different than a cut, as far as wounds go.
It’s more complicated than a surface cut.
It is the accumulation of pain and blood, just under the skin.
It’s painful.
I once heard Moon Unit Zappa, daughter of Rock Musician, Frank Zappa, mention, as she recalled writing her memoir, that she was encouraged by a friend to “press on the bruise.”
That means, lean into the pain, lean into the contrite, broken, bruised spirit and heart.
Lean into the more complicated nature of the bruised prayer.
It HURTS! It’s tender; it’s sensitive.
The bruised spot doesn’t like to be touched.
Exactly.
That.
Exactly why He needs to touch it.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A heart broken and bruised, O God, Thou dost not despise.”
Psalms 51:17
And that is painful. Not just obvious pain.
Complicated. Remorseful. Deep. Multi-layered…bruising.
That is the heart of the issues He wants us to bring to Him.
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.”
Isaiah 42:3
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.”
Matthew 12:20
“For thus said the high and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and holy is His name: 'In the high and holy place I dwell, And with the bruised and humble of spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of bruised ones.'”
Isaiah 57:15
And, at the heart of His Desire for us to bring Him our bruised selves is Our Messiah.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
Yahshua. Our Savior.
He paid the price.
He checks all the boxes in Isaiah 53:5: wounded, bruised, absence of peace, and cutting stripes.
And Luke 4:18 further proclaims the Salvation Work of the Cross; He died FOR us.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
Luke 4:18
He CHOSE to be our Savior.
He did not need to do that. He could have opted out.
But He DIDN’T.
“…‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’”
Luke 22:42
How bruised are you right now?
How bruised are your prayers?
Are you contrite?
Are you sorry?
Are you broken hearted?
If you are a member of Humanity, you qualify for The Savior.
He died for you.
Don’t let anything, including your broken bruised nature, convince you otherwise.
Accept Him- ask Him- to be your Savior, healing every bruise, seen and unseen. Ask Him to heal your life.
He already died to do just that.
Let’s pray.
Let’s allow The Savior to Save… even in our bruised condition: spirit, mind, body, and life.
Yahshua, I come to You right now.
Forgive me of every sin and bruise.
I accept that You died for my sins. You died for my bruises, my pain, my pathetic attempts to live my life on my own.
I recognize that I need You.
Thank You for dying for me.
Be my Savior. Help me to Live For You.
Thank You. I receive it now, by faith.
Amen.
“For thus said the High and exalted One, Inhabiting eternity, and Holy is His Name: 'In the high and holy place I dwell, And with the bruised and humble of spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of bruised ones.'”
Isaiah 57:15
Copyright © 2025 by Sheryle Cruse
